Sons and Daughters of God

August 12, 2011

“In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—” Ephesians 1:5

As I read through the Bible, it becomes obvious that family ties are a big deal. In the Old Testament they are critical for everything, from property rights to leadership and beyond. Family connections seem to mean much more than they appear to in our culture.

Now I’m not denying the importance of family. Family is probably the biggest determiner of who we will become. My genetic makeup, for example: I have physical resemblance to both sides of my family tree. Funny, for years I saw it in my siblings but not in myself. But as I look at pictures, both old and new, I am surprised at how much I look like my brothers and sisters. And we all look, in different places, like our parents; same feet, for example, same pencil arms. Noses, chins, probably even elbows are similar. We look like we come from the same family.

There are personality and sociological tendencies as well, the same addictions, whether genetic or environmental, have been passed down. My sense of humor is similarly twisted as others in my family (thanks mom). I see my dad in my brothers, who no doubt also see him in me.

Sonship. Sometimes I embrace it, some time I run like crazy from it.

And we don’t even have to talk about the financial side of sonship. We don’t have to talk about it because I aint gettin’ nothin. But let’s talk about it a moment anyway. We have all seen both the blessings and the curses from inheriting wealth. If character is not passed down from fathers to sons, the one who earned great wealth would be disappointed to see how his heirs have dealt with their inheritance.

I wonder how disappointed God gets in looking at his heirs.

The Bible takes us far beyond mere family resemblances. It takes us to our true inheritance. Re-read Ephesians 1:5. I have been adopted by God. Italicized, underlined exclamation point! Even though he knows everything about me, he still wants me as his child. And that makes me feel good.

If Ephesians 1:5 stood alone I might not feel this way, but Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Galatians 4:7, Titus 3:7, I Peter 3:7 all speak of the fact that we are sons and daughters, heirs to the Throne of God. And there are many, many others, both in the Old and New Testaments that give testament to the fact that God wants us to be part of his Forever Family.

And it makes me happy. Oh, and it makes God happy too….he did it for his own good pleasure and will. !

And it makes me want to live up to the family name. I want to make my daddy proud of me.

Oh, and one final thought. Not to leave Ephesians too far behind, but as his sons and daughters, we are also heirs to the promises of God….every one of them.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” isspoken by us to the glory of God.” (II Corinthians 1:20)